Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-25
THE CITY.
TO BE EXAMINED.
The Result OF the Investigation of the Fire
Alarm system.

Il
Alarm system.
There was good big crowd of specta
tors at the city hall last nigat. Most of
them were witnesses summoned by the
special council committee appointed to
investigate into the alleged defective
workings of the fire alarm system.
Messrs. Mulkey, Dlggett and Cooper
were the committee. CityAttorney
Capps was present and asked questions.
Alderman Hill was there, and his son
George. George is the city electrician,
concerning whose ability 10 rightly run
the tire-alarm business there seems to be
some doubt. The Messrs. Hill figured as
witnesses and also propOunded questions.
Every body, including two reporters,
seemed to take deep interest in the pro-
ceedings. 1t had the rather odd appear
anCe of trial, which was heightened by
some very personal questions.
A cloud of witnesses were interro-
gated. Messrs. Cetti, Swayne,
Crane, Martin, Harrison and other
insurance men were asked what
they knew about electricity in general,
aud the electric alarm 1 Fort Worth in
particular. They all denied being cnCy
cl0pedlas as to the subject, bu thought
there was something wrong with the fire
alarm system. 1t seemed to be general
sentiment that the alarm was not as re-
liable as it ought to he, sometimes send
ing the tiiemen to the wrong quarter.
Mr.. Cetti instauCed q fire when the sig
nal announced box TO which there was
no corresponding number. He thought
the system good enough If it was kept in
GOOD shape; had heard 10 great com
plant
MI Martin said he was particularly in
terested in his own box, No. IL, and re
membered one occasion when it was
given, though the fire proved to be in an
other quarter.
Mr. Watkins was put on as an expert,
and admitted that he was e practical cleo
trician; had studied it for years. Alder
alarm wire with telephone wires
might not interfere SO seriously
with the working OF the for
mer as to cause wrong alarms.
| The witness said it might 81d went into
an explanation of electrical phenomena.
Mr. Capps then asked him if ne regarded
MIR. Hill as competent man, one who
was cOnversant enough with the business
TO run it correctly. The question was
somewhat too pointed for an
swer. Then the lawyer asked him
| if he could determine mans
competency as an electrician By examin
| ing him, as doctor could tell whether
another one knew anything about physic
ay asking him questions. Witness said
he could.
At this point Alderman Hill remarked
that while his son was nOminally electri-
can, he did TIE work. At this
Mukey said there was no use to go
| further with the Investigation and had
| the City Attorney to read from the
statutes forbiddiDg any member OF the
| Council to hold any other employment or
office under the city government, or for
any member Of the council to be directly
or indirectly interested in any work,
| business or contract paid for by the city.
| Mr.. Hill went on the stand and said he
did not consider that aiding his son was
any violation of the law. Ia response to
the question whether he thought the fire
alarm system now in good order, he said
it was, considering that it was
mixed up with telephone and tel
egraph lines; that the city should
operate the alarm system Independently.
| He referred to the fact that employees OF
! telephone company, either for joke or
out of malice, had put Jumpers on the
wires, thus cutting off the circuit from
particular boxes. H. had been assistant
electrician at New Albany, and had ex-
tended the system here.
| Ex-Chief MatkiD was on the stand and
was proceeding to naVrate some instances
where the bell failed to locate the fire,
when the identical bell began ringing and
the cry Of fire resOunded on the street.
Committee and witnesses scattered at the
sound and ran out OF the house. The
| fire proved to be small affair across the
river aud presently all parties were back
in the hall.
alderman Daggett moved that three
electricians be asked to examine Mr. Hill,
Jr. Messrs. Watkins, Massey and Crab
tree were asked if they would undertake
that task. The gentlemen signitied their
| Willingness and the meeting broke up.